DAY 2: ARRIVE PRAGUEAfternoon arrival into the golden city of Prague famous for its Gothic and Baroque architecture and ranked as one of the most beautifully preserved cities in Europe. The first special Mass of our pilgrimage will be celebrated before dinner.Prague overnight (D)

DAY 3: PRAGUEOur pilgrimage begins today with a walking tour of Prague. Visit St Vitus Cathedral, the city’s most distinctive landmark which houses the crown jewels and the tomb of ‘Good King’ Wenceslas. Continue on to the Hradcany area and the Prague Castle.

We celebrate Mass today at the Church of Our Lady Victorious where we come face to face with the Holy Infant of Prague. This wax figure has an impressive record of miracle cures and is one of the most revered images in the Catholic world.

Cross the historical Charles Bridge built in 1400 and continue on to the Old Town area including Wenceslas Square, Celetna Lane, Old Town Square (with its random network of streets dating back to the 13th century), the Town Hall with the astronomical clock and Tyn Cathedral.Prague overnight (BD)

DAY 4: PRAGUE TO CZESTOCHOWA

Depart Prague this morning and journey east into Poland through the lush green countryside.We stop for lunch and some time to wander the picturesque village of Klodzko. See the Gothic St John’s Bridge with its striking statues and the fortress towering over the town.

We reboard our coach and continue on to Czestochowa where the fortress monastery of the Pauline monks of Jasna Gora (meaning Bright Hill) is located. We will travel direct to our centrally located hotel, and celebrate Mass at one of the beautiful local chapels or monasteries.Czestochowa overnight (BD)

DAY 5: CZESTOCHOWA PILGRIMAGE

Czestochowa is home to the cherished miraculous icon of Our Lady with the Child Jesus, an object of veneration for centuries (also known as the Black Madonna). Attracting more than five million pilgrims every year, Our Lady of Czestochowa is recognized as one of the most visited places of Christian pilgrimage in the world. This morning we will celebrate a private Mass before the image here in the ancient chapel. Later we will tour the Basilica, Treasury, Museum and Knights Hall.

A little free time this afternoon to explore the town or return to the shrine for personal prayer.Czestochowa overnight (BD)

DAY 6: VIA AUSCHWITZ AND WADOWICE TO KRAKOW

Departing Czestochowa this morning we journey south and enter on a deeply moving encounter of Auschwitz where we mourn the millions of people who were put to death in this, the biggest concentration camp of Hitler’s Nazism. Pope St John Paul II has termed this place the Golgotha of the modern world. We pray in the martyrdom bunker of St Maximilian Kolbe and view his cell while reflecting upon his selfless courage. After the tour of Auschwitz, we will have Mass in one of the beautiful town Churches.

Continue to Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla (the now canonised Pope St John Paul II) where we enter his family house and even the grounds where he used to play Football! The central point of the town is the market square with its Parish Church, and the famous Baptismal basin where Karol was baptized. Next to the church, we find the saint’s birthplace and the nearby Museum encompassing the former home of the Wojtyla family.

En route to Krakow we visit the celebrated Marian site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which remains the favourite boyhood shrine of Pope St John Paul II.

Krakow overnight (BD)

DAY 7: KRAKOW

Here in Krakow we bask in the two-fold grace of Divine Mercy and Pope St John Paul II who served as the city’s Archbishop. Today we commence our walking tour at the Wawel Cathedral where in the crypt below Fr Karol was ordained in 1946 and celebrated his first Mass.

Continue on to St Mary’s Church, University and Market Square to experience one of the most beautiful medieval city centres in Europe. Enter St. Florians Church where we will celebrate Mass, and where the young Karol developed a flourishing underground youth ministry at great risk.Krakow overnight (BD)

DAY 8: KRAKOW

Our morning will feature an enthralling tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines, the oldest operational mines in Europe and dating back to the 13th century.

Our afternoon draws us to the inspired Shrine of Divine Mercy where, between 1931 – 1938 Our Lord appeared to Sr Faustina Kowalska (a Polish Sister of Mercy) entrusting with her the mission of spreading His message of merciful love for humanity. During our visit we will celebrate Mass at the shrine, and witness the miraculous image of the Merciful Jesus before venerating the tomb of St Faustina. Finally we will visit the recently consecrated ‘Have No Fear’ John Paul II Shrine where we can encounter ‘the person of John Paul II, his thoughts, his spirit and his sanctity’ (Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz).Krakow overnight (BD)

DAY 9: KRAKOW TO ZAKOPANE

Departing south this morning we soon come to the resort village of Zakopane where we will pray in the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, built in thanksgiving of Pope St John Paul II’s narrow escape from assassination on 13 May, 1981.We then embark on a cable car ride into the Tatras Mountains with its many walking trails once frequented by Fr Karol and his companions. Also here atop Mt Kasprowy we enter the Jaszczorowka Chapel so loved by Pope St John Paul II and where we will celebrate our spectacular Mass.Zakopane overnight (BD)

DAY 10: ZAKOPANE TO BUDAPEST

Departing Zakopane this morning, we cross into the Slovak Republic, through magnificent alpine landscape into Hungary and en route to the amazingly beautiful city of Budapest.Situated on the opposite banks of the Danube, the former cities of Buda and Pest are linked by a series of graceful bridges.Budapest overnight (BD)

DAY 11: BUDAPEST

Our tour today in Budapest begins with a visit and Mass at the Basilica of St Stephen which holds the mummified hand of St Stephen of Hungary. Continue on to view the decorative Parliament building, Heroes Square, the 118 foot high Corinthian column dedicated to the Roman Catholic Church, the 13th century Church of St Matthias and the Fisherman’s Bastion. Finish our tour with a panoramic view of the city from Gellert Hill.

Enjoy some free time this afternoon before embarking on an enchanting dinner cruise on the River Danube as a fitting celebration of our Road of Mercy pilgrimage.Budapest overnight (BD)

DAY 12: DEPART BUDAPEST

Today we will be transferred to the airport for our homebound flight connections or onward pilgrimage extensions to Italy or beyond.(B)

2017 DATES AND PRICES

AIR & TOUR PACKAGE

Code

Departs Aust

AUD

7RM01A

SUN 3 SEP

$5890

TOUR ONLY

Code

Begins/Ends

AUD

7RM01L

4 SEP TO 14 SEP

$3790

CHAPLAIN

Name

TBA

Single Room Supplement: $810

NB: An additional mandatory prepaid tipping fund of $15 per day per person will be invoiced in advance by Harvest to avoid regular inconvenience to pilgrims on tour.

Full package based on departure from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth including all airline taxes and levies (subject to change).Tour Only costs include local internal airfares between Start/End dates. Refer to our full price inclusions and Booking Procedures for more information.